The AJRA committee are enthusiastic about the positive future for Jumps Racing in Victoria. Chairman, Sandy McGregor is pleased that the RV board have now completed their review and Jumps Racing’s future is secured.

“160 registered jumps trainers can proceed in actively training their jumpers for the 2025 jumps season. With over 220 + horses who are currently registered along with additional horses who will seek to qualify for the 2025 jumps season; The ARJA will continue to support all those involved.

There are currently 2000 + passionate owners of jumps horses already investing over $15 million per annum in training fees. We are pleased to see this continuity.

Jumps Racing has a significant social and cultural value, especially for regional communities. 80% of jumps trainers are located in regional areas and we are relieved for all those employed in these areas that Jumps Racing will continue. The 22 jumps jockeys we have registered will now be able to focus on the 2025 season."

On behalf of the AJRA committee we would like to thank everyone for waiting patiently for such good news.

We look forward to meeting Racing Victoria as soon as we are able; to discuss the recommendations further.”

RACING VICTORIA CONFIRMS POSITIVE FUTURE FOR JUMPS RACING.

As of today, following the completion of a major Jumps Racing Review, Racing Victoria (RV) has confirmed the continuation of jumps racing in Victoria in conjunction with a range of additional safety and operational enhancements.

To support these measures, RV will establish a Jumps Taskforce (JT) to oversee the implementation of these enhancements and review jumps racing’s performance against key result areas at the conclusion of each season.

In September 2024, the RV Board endorsed a comprehensive review which was conducted by the newly formed Jumps Review Group (JRG). The group was chaired by RV’s Executive General Manager – Integrity, Jamie Stier, and supported by former Victorian Racing Integrity Board Chair and former Supreme Court Judge, Justice Jack Forrest, as an independent member.

The review assessed various aspects of jumps racing in Victoria according to the Terms of Reference, including consideration of its future viability and/or what further changes could be made to improve the safety record of jumps racing.

As part of the process, the JRG engaged with a wide range of industry and non-industry stakeholders and received a significant amount of public submissions.

More than 350 written submissions were received, reflecting a range of views from proposals to improve jumps racing, calls for its cessation, and support for its continuation in its current form.

Via the RV Executive, the JRG provided its report and recommendations to the RV Board for decision at a December meeting. A copy of the report and recommendations was also shared with the Racing Integrity Commissioner, Sean Carroll, who has endorsed the fact and evidence-based approach undertaken by the JRG and the RV Executive.

Outcome and Recommendations After reviewing the JRG’s report and further considerations received from the RV Executive, the RV Board has determined to continue jumps racing.

As part of its deliberations, the RV Board resolved to adopt and further enhance the 11 safety and operational recommendations it received.

In reaching its decision, the RV Board acknowledged that jumps racing has thousands of passionate supporters, predominantly in regional Victoria. It also highlighted jumps racing’s significant economic and cultural contribution to regional Victoria, particularly in the south-west of the state.

The Board noted that the Warrnambool May Carnival generates $14.8 million in direct expenditure annually and the removal of jumps racing would likely impact the Carnival's unique appeal and potentially adversely impact visitation, employment, and economic activity in the region.

The Board also acknowledged the jumps jockeys and trainers who contribute to Victorian racing throughout the year and not just on jumps racing days, especially via their roles as track riders.

While acknowledging that last season’s safety record was unacceptable, the Board also recognised the sustained efforts of all stakeholders over the previous 14 seasons to improve safety.

The 11 recommendations, endorsed by the Board, are summarised as follows:

1. Changes to Length of Season

• Noting the difficulties with achieving soft tracks early in the calendar year, the season will commence no earlier than five weeks prior to the commencement of the Warrnambool May Carnival.

• Additional distance flat races will be conducted prior to the start of the season to ensure race fitness options for jumps horses are available.

• The end of the season will also be brought forward at Ballarat to mid-August rather than late August.

• These changes will involve a reduction in the total jumps races conducted from 72 to approximately 62 races.

2. Ensure jumps racing is focused at tracks specifically prepared for jumps racing

• Sale is not considered a preferred jumps venue from an operational standpoint and as such, will cease running jumps races.

• Pakenham will transition out of jumps racing following meetings in 2025 or earlier if possible.

• RV will engage with the Ballarat Turf Club to explore programming options at the venue to ensure that the racecourse is able to be appropriately prepared for jumps racing.

• RV will continue to review the suitability of venues to conduct jumps racing and at any stage Clubs may engage with RV regarding their ongoing participation.

3. Jumps races are not to be transferred to alternative venues following nominations

• At the close of nominations, or anytime afterwards, should a programmed race meeting, which includes jumps races on the program, not be able to proceed at the advertised course, then the scheduled jumps races will be abandoned. This negates concerns raised around alternate venues not being able to have the racing surface in suitable condition to hold a jumps race meeting.

4. Strengthened jumps track compliance and checklist processes

• New measures will be introduced to ensure there is increased oversight via a track preparation compliance regime and checklist process, which Clubs will be required to adhere to prior to staging a jumps race meeting.

• RV endorsed the current Rules of Racing wherein jumps races must not be conducted on a track rated better than a Soft 5. Further, where a track is upgraded to a Good 4 during a race meeting, the jumps races must be abandoned.

• The preparation of tracks to host jumps race meetings, will need to ensure that the Soft 5 is closer to a Soft 6 than a Good 4, especially at the start of the season in the warmer and traditionally drier months.

5. Making horses and jockeys race-ready with improvements to the conduct of jumps trials

• Increase competitiveness of jumps trials to better replicate race conditions and educate horses and participants by: Increasing field sizes in the knowledge that larger fields generally create a better tempo.

• Consolidating trial distances to improve field sizes.

• Trial times to be used as a guide to suitable qualification of horses at trials. They are currently assessed on jumping performance.

• Ensuring trial tracks are presented as per race day requirements (Soft 5).

6. Increased use of alternative trial venues

• Increased use of Terang (inside grass) and Hamilton for jumps trials to share the workload and wear among multiple venues.

• Increased trials to be conducted the day after jumps races with the track surface already prepared for jumps racing.

• Making horses and jockeys race ready with the introduction of formal schooling days

• Formal schooling sessions to be conducted at Ballarat, Cranbourne and other appropriate venues.

• Casterton Racing Club to be encouraged to offer more schooling opportunities for participants.

• Making jockeys race ready with the introduction of a former jumps jockey as a Jumps Jockey Coach

• RV to engage a former jumps jockey as a Jumps Jockey Coach to mentor jumps jockeys in their training and riding.

7. Permanent use of loosened straps on hurdles

• In consultation with the Australian Jumps Racing Association (AJRA), a minor adjustment was made towards the end of last season to the set-up of the hurdles with the loosening of binding straps to allow for more flexibility if struck.

• After a successful trial in late 2024, this process is to be adopted on a permanent basis.

8. Placement of jumps obstacles to be considered for each venue

• Stewards will liaise with Clubs, participants and other stakeholders to determine where on each individual track the obstacles are best located to maximise safety and operational outcomes.

9. RV working group to be established

• RV to investigate means to address the overall financial performance of jump racing. This will include a reduction of the net operational cost to RV of jumps racing, a reduction of overall prizemoney allocated to jumps racing, and investigation of opportunities via external sources including grants and sponsorship.

• Any additional expenditure related to the implementation of any of the 11 recommendations will be considered in relation to the net operating cost reduction of jumps racing.

Accountability Framework

To oversee the implementation of these recommendations, the JT will be introduced as a

dedicated oversight and review body for jumps racing.

The JT, who will report directly to the RV Board, will assess and monitor the progress of

each recommendation and be comprised of:

• The Chair of the Jumps Review Panel, James Hitchcock;

• The Jumps Racing Manager, Josh Grimwood;

• The RV EGM of Integrity, Jamie Stier;

• A Board representative from the RV Racing Sub-Committee, Mark Player; and

• An Independent Member, Justice Jack Forrest.

The JT may be convened at any time during the jumps season at the direction of the Board to respond to any immediate issues in jumps racing.

At the conclusion of each jumps racing season, the JT will also undertake a review and provide a report to the Board on the outcome against key result areas, including safety metrics, participation rates and economic impacts.

A broader review of jumps racing will be conducted after three years, as per an additional recommendation of the Racing Integrity Commissioner.

Quotes attributable to Racing Victoria Chairman, Tim Eddy

“After careful consideration of the findings and recommendations presented by the Jumps Review Group and the Executive, the Racing Victoria Board has resolved to continue jumps racing alongside a suite of new safety and operational improvements.

“This decision reflects our recognition of jumps racing’s cultural and economic significance to regional Victoria, particularly its vital role in events such as the Warrnambool May Carnival.

“To ensure we deliver on the adopted recommendations, Racing Victoria will now establish a Jumps Taskforce to oversee their execution. This group will monitor jumps racing’s performance and will report directly to the RV Board, as we strive for improvement.

“I want to extend my gratitude to the Jumps Review Group for their thorough and balanced assessment of jumps racing. I also wish to thank the individuals and organisations who contributed to the review process and tabled a submission.

“We are committed to ensuring jumps racing continues to evolve, with safety, integrity, and sustainability at the forefront of every decision we make.”